Baines and Ernst

Baines and Ernst:

Baines & Ernst is a UK-based financial solutions company that is part of the Paymex Group. Established in Manchester in 1996 as a specialist debt management company, they provide services to help people get out of debt including Debt management plans andDebt Relief Orders.

The company also offers an advisory service in Individual Voluntary Arrangements andBankruptcy to people living in England and Wales, and Protected Trust Deeds to people living in Scotland......

[edit]Baines & Ernst was originally formed as a debt collection company with 50 staff members but quickly evolved in to the debt management sector; offering debt advice and debt help to people who had fallen behind on repayments to creditors – the companies they owed money to.History

In 2009, the company was approved by the Secretary of State as a Competent Authority for Debt Relief Orders in the UK and Wales. The company was also approved to provide Debt Relief Orders to people living in Northern Ireland in 2011.

The company's Head Office is located in Manchester City Centre and employs 330 staff.

[edit]Company name

Baines & Ernst is commonly written with an ampersand; however they are often referred to as Baines and Ernst, Baines or B & E. The company has launched several television campaigns^[1] and all have promoted the company as Baines & Ernst.

[edit]Associated companies

Baines & Ernst was the first company to be established from its parent company, the Paymex Group. The Paymex Group is a financial solutions company offering expertise in various debt solutions through its other companies.

Baines & Ernst associated companies include Baker Evans for Bankruptcy and Baines & Ernst Corporate for business insolvency.

[edit]Directors

Steve Brilus - Managing director, Nick Pearson - Director of External Affairs and Robin Russel-Fisher - Group Financial Director.

[edit]Financial Services

Baines & Ernst’s main service is the Debt Management Plan – also referred to as a DMP.^[2] A Debt Management Plan is a type of debt solution that enables people to repay their debts at a more manageable rate during times of financial hardship. Baines & Ernst acts as an intermediary between the debtor and the creditor. The company negotiates with the creditors involved to secure better repayment rates for the debtor and distributes payment to the creditors involved in the plan. Since the company began trading in 1996, they have helped over 100,000 people and have managed debts totalling £1 billion.

A Debt Relief Order – also known as a DRO – came into force in the UK and Wales in April 2009^[3] and in Northern Ireland in 2011 following its introduction in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 as a new form of Bankruptcy.

Debt Relief Orders are suitable for people who do not own their own home, have little surplus income and assets and less than £15,000 of debt.^[4] Baines & Ernst was approved^[5] by the Secretary of State as a Competent Authority for the provision of Debt Relief Orders in the UK, Wales and Northern Ireland. The company provides the DRO service for free but those applying for a DRO must pay a fee of £90 to the Insolvency Service.

[edit]Industry Memberships

• Debt Managers Standards Association (DEMSA)^[6]
• Association of Professional Debt Solution Intermedaries

[edit]Industry Awards

• Debt Management Provider of the Year 2010 at the Insolvency & Rescue Awards^[7]
• Debt Counsellor of the Year 2010 at the Credit Today Awards^[8]

[edit]Awards nominations

• Debt Management Provider of the Year 2011 [finalists] Insolvency and Rescue Awards
• Debt Counsellor of the Year 2011 [nominee] Credit Today Awards^[9]

[edit]Charity

The company raises money internally through various fundraising days and distributes all donations to various charities every month.

The company raised over £15,000^[10] in 2008 following the National Three Peaks Challenge in aid of charity DebRA.